清(qing)乾隆(long)(long)黑(hei)漆(qi)彩繪樓閣群仙祝(zhu)壽鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)造型為木胎黑(hei)漆(qi)彩繪二層樓閣。一層正中(zhong)為雙針時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),寫有“乾隆(long)(long)年制”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤上(shang)飾以造辦處特有的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)黃色琺(fa)瑯。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)5個上(shang)弦孔分(fen)別控制5種功能:走時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、報(bao)(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、報(bao)(bao)刻(ke)(ke)、開關(guan)門、打樂(le)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)左右(you)(you)兩側為變(bian)動的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)布景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),左邊(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)表演主題是“海屋(wu)添籌”,右(you)(you)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)表演主題為“群仙祝(zhu)壽”。二層為3間房(fang)屋(wu),內(nei)各有一報(bao)(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)。每(mei)逢3、6、9、12時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),房(fang)門開啟(qi),3人(ren)(ren)手執鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)緩步(bu)出門,站定后,左邊(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)敲鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)發(fa)出“叮”聲,右(you)(you)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)敲鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)發(fa)出“當(dang)”聲,“叮當(dang)”聲響一次(ci)報(bao)(bao)一刻(ke)(ke)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),響兩次(ci)報(bao)(bao)兩刻(ke)(ke),依次(ci)類推,報(bao)(bao)完四刻(ke)(ke)后,中(zhong)間的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)敲鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)報(bao)(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)。報(bao)(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)刻(ke)(ke)完畢,樂(le)曲聲起,景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)內(nei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)活動裝置(zhi)開始運作(zuo)。左景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)內(nei)重巒疊嶂(zhang)間有仙鶴傲(ao)立,架著(zhu)祥云(yun)(yun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)仙人(ren)(ren)緩緩升騰(teng),云(yun)(yun)海中(zhong)一座(zuo)瓊(qiong)樓陡然浮(fu)起。右(you)(you)景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)內(nei)扶杖的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)壽星(xing)正依次(ci)接受(shou)八仙敬獻的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)寶物。樂(le)止,報(bao)(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)刻(ke)(ke)人(ren)(ren)退(tui)回門內(nei),樓門關(guan)閉,景(jing)箱(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)內(nei)各活動裝置(zhi)復位。
清乾隆(long)黑漆彩繪樓閣(ge)群仙(xian)祝壽鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)為亭(ting)式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)共有(you)7套機械系統,分(fen)別控制走時(shi)、報時(shi)、景(jing)箱內的活動(dong)裝(zhuang)置等,亭(ting)式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的外殼分(fen)全(quan)金(jin)(jin)屬與金(jin)(jin)屬框(kuang)玉石頂兩大類。用(yong)(yong)料(liao)上多用(yong)(yong)紫(zi)檀木、紅木為外殼,以(yi)亭(ting)臺樓閣(ge)的傳統建筑形(xing)式(shi)為造型,上嵌琺瑯(lang)或描以(yi)金(jin)(jin)漆等。早期金(jin)(jin)屬鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)殼銅澆(jiao)鑄,后期是鑄鉛包(bao)銅鎏金(jin)(jin)。上乘者繪琺瑯(lang),琺瑯(lang)又(you)分(fen)掐(qia)絲(si)琺瑯(lang)與透明琺瑯(lang),前者適用(yong)(yong)于花卉(hui)圖(tu)案,后者則(ze)表(biao)現人(ren)物、風景(jing)等。琺瑯(lang)繪制程度,又(you)分(fen)為全(quan)琺瑯(lang)與半琺瑯(lang),全(quan)琺瑯(lang)即外殼及鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)殼內都施以(yi)琺瑯(lang),亭(ting)式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的機芯以(yi)發條為動(dong)力。
清(qing)乾隆(long)黑漆(qi)彩繪樓(lou)閣(ge)群仙祝(zhu)壽(shou)鐘(zhong)(zhong)為亭(ting)式鐘(zhong)(zhong),是西洋(yang)自鳴鐘(zhong)(zhong)中的一個門類,具有較(jiao)高的觀(guan)賞價(jia)值,其鐘(zhong)(zhong)殼仿照建(jian)筑中的亭(ting)閣(ge),故稱“亭(ting)式鐘(zhong)(zhong)”,上(shang)海(hai)及(ji)江浙一帶俗(su)稱“亭(ting)子鐘(zhong)(zhong)”。亭(ting)式鐘(zhong)(zhong)的四面都(dou)是玻(bo)璃,因其透明,亦稱“四明鐘(zhong)(zhong)”。
清乾隆黑漆彩繪樓閣群仙祝壽(shou)鐘(zhong)具(ju)的(de)制作(zuo)有相當(dang)高(gao)(gao)(gao)的(de)技術(shu)水準,其造型莊重大(da)方,外飾華麗(li),玻璃透明,有著較高(gao)(gao)(gao)的(de)觀賞性為故宮(gong)(gong)鐘(zhong)表(biao)的(de)代表(biao)作(zuo)。把中國(guo)傳統文(wen)化(hua)的(de)多個方面(mian)巧妙地體現在一座鐘(zhong)表(biao)上(shang),具(ju)有極高(gao)(gao)(gao)的(de)藝術(shu)價值,現在故宮(gong)(gong)博物(wu)院珍(zhen)(zhen)藏(zang)清代鐘(zhong)表(biao)千余件,其中做鐘(zhong)處作(zuo)品(pin)數量雖不(bu)足十分之一,但它們是(shi)清宮(gong)(gong)做鐘(zhong)處制品(pin)之代表(biao),存留至(zhi)今,具(ju)為稀世珍(zhen)(zhen)寶,同時也是(shi)世界科學文(wen)化(hua)藝術(shu)寶庫中的(de)瑰(gui)寶。
清乾隆黑漆彩繪(hui)樓閣群(qun)仙(xian)祝壽鐘,鐘盤的(de)(de)左右兩(liang)側為變動(dong)的(de)(de)布景(jing)(jing)箱(xiang),左邊(bian)景(jing)(jing)箱(xiang)的(de)(de)表演(yan)主(zhu)題是(shi)“海屋(wu)添籌”,右邊(bian)景(jing)(jing)箱(xiang)的(de)(de)表演(yan)主(zhu)題為“群(qun)仙(xian)祝壽”,寓(yu)意(yi)福壽雙(shuang)全。右邊(bian)景(jing)(jing)箱(xiang)內(nei)(nei)的(de)(de)仙(xian)山(shan)之間(jian),扶著手杖的(de)(de)老壽星接受八仙(xian)依(yi)次獻寶,寓(yu)意(yi)“八仙(xian)祝壽”;左景(jing)(jing)內(nei)(nei)起(qi)伏層疊的(de)(de)山(shan)巒(luan)間(jian),仙(xian)鶴(he)傲(ao)立,仙(xian)人飄(piao)浮于(yu)云中,緩緩升起(qi),海水掀開一(yi)(yi)洞,升起(qi)一(yi)(yi)座樓閣,寓(yu)意(yi)“海屋(wu)添籌”祝愿長(chang)壽。“海屋(wu)添籌”這一(yi)(yi)故(gu)事出自宋代蘇軾的(de)(de)《東坡志林》一(yi)(yi)書,后來(lai)就(jiu)慢慢變成了比(bi)喻(yu)長(chang)壽的(de)(de)成語,被人們(men)用作祝壽時的(de)(de)吉(ji)祥話。
清乾隆(long)黑漆彩繪樓(lou)閣群仙(xian)祝壽鐘是故宮十大鎮館(guan)之寶之一。